Seven South African citizens have been freed from prison in China

Tuesday, 18 December – The statement released from the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) says that seven South African citizens have been freed from prison in China and are to be returned to South Africa.

“The South African mission in Shanghai has informed the minister of international relations and cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, that the seven South African nationals in Jiangsu Province have completed their detention period and will be released and deported back to South Africa,” read a statement from Dirco.

“The arrangement is that the school that employed the seven as English teachers should provide the return tickets for the flight on which they are to be deported. They are expected to return to South Africa before Friday, 21 December 2018.”

Tristan-Lee Niemand is one of at least 100 South Africans detained in China over visa violations.

She has been detained in Nanjing City since November 2017 and her family, along with Dirco, have been putting effort into bringing her back home. Her family told the Cape Times their daughter with a student visa took a teaching job in China through an agency that promised to get her a work visa.